Hitler defined the Nazi party foreign policy. The prime goal was to secure lebensraum (living space) for the German master race.

27th February 1933

The Reichstag Fire. A fire which broke out at the Reichstag building was blamed on the Communist Party (KPD). As a result the KPD, which was the second largest party in Germany, was banned. The banning of the Communist party gave the Nazis a clear majority in government.

5th March 1933

With the Communist party banned Hitler ordered a new election at which the Nazi party gained 44% of the General election vote.

23rd March 1933

Enabling Act gave Hitler power to make laws without consulting the Reichstag for a period of four years

25,000 'un-German' books burned in an “Action against the Un-German Spirit”. The move was encouraged by Joseph Goebbels, Head of Propaganda.

14th July 1933

All political parties except the Nazis were banned

October 1933

Germany withdrew from the League of Nations

30th June 1934

The Night of the Long Knives - 150 leaders of the Stormtroopers SA were executed. Many members of the SA were committed socialists and demanded that Nazi policy embrace socialist aims. This was not a direction the Nazis wished to follow so the SA were eliminated.

2nd August 1934

President Hindenburg died. Hitler combined the post of President and Chancellor and called himself Fuhrer.

September 1934

In a speech to the National Socialist Women's Organization, Hitler defined women's role stating that a woman's " world is her husband, her family, her children, and her home."

26th February 1935

Hitler ordered Hermann Goering to establish the Luftwaffe, German airforce, in defiance of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

March 1935

Hitler publicly announced that the German Army was to be expanded. Conscription was introduced.

15th September 1935

Nuremburg Laws defined German citizenship. Relationships between Jews and Aryans were banned.

7th March 1936

Re-occupation of the Rhineland. In contravention of the terms of the Versailles Treaty, Hitler sent German troops to re-occupy the Rhineland.

Law concerning the Hitler Youth made membership of the Hitler Youth compulsory for all boys

14th March 1938

Anschluss with Austria. Hitler made a triumphant entry into Vienna

30th September 1938

Munich Agreement - Allies agreed that Germany could have the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in return for peace

November 1938

Kristallnacht - Jewish shops and synagogues were destroyed. Following the event the Jewish population was fined for the destruction.

15th March 1939

Hitler invaded and occupied Czechoslovakia in contravention of the Munich Agreement

31st March 1939

Britain issued a statement guaranteeing Poland's independence. The issuing of this statement meant that if Germany invaded Poland then Britain would come to the aid of the Poles.

23rd August 1939

Nazi-Soviet Pact - Alliance between Hitler and Stalin which agreed to divide Poland between the two countries.

25th August 1939

Anglo-Polish Common Defence Pact - This agreement offered mutual military assistance in the event that one country was attacked by another European country. A clause was added specifying that the assistance would only be offered if the invaded country's army fought against the aggressor.

1st September 1939

Hitler invaded Poland using Blitzkrieg (lightning war) tactics. Although the Poles fought back they were quickly defeated and Poland was occupied.

3rd September 1939

Britain and France declared war on Germany

9th April 1940

Denmark and Norway invaded and occupied

10th May 1940

Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France invaded and occupied

10th July 1940

Battle of Britain began - German Luftwaffe attempted to gain control of British airspace through defeat of the Royal Airforce.

October 1940

Daylight and night bombing raids on Britain (The Blitz) by the Luftwaffe were abandoned. Hitler also delayed and later abandoned plans to invade Britain.

6th April 1941

Yugoslavia and Greece invaded and occupied

22nd June 1941

Operation Barbarossa - 3 million German troops invaded Russia

5th December 1941

German advance in Russia halted by Russian winter and Russian counterattacks.

11th December 1941

Hitler declared war on the United States. Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December the United States had declared war on Japan. Under the terms of the Anti-Comintern Pack Hitler was bound to declare war on the United States

20th January 1942

Wannsee Conference approved plans for the 'Final Solution'.

5th November 1942

German troops defeated at the Second Battle of El Alamein in North Africa

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